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Is Atlantis Off Cyprus?

One researcher claims to have located the lost continent of Atlantis off the coast of Cyprus. Others are skeptical. An accomplished remote viewer, exploring the area psychically, detected the submerged ruins of a city but noted nothing resembling Atlantis.

Robert Sarmast, an American, used sonar scanning of the waters off Cyprus, and located, according to a report by CNN, man-made structures, such as walls, at a depth of about 4500 feet. He compared the layout of his structures to accounts given of Atlantis by Plato, and believes he has found a correspondence.

Pavlos Flourentzos, the chief archaeologist of Cyprus, expressed skepticism of such a connection as having any meaning, according to the Associated Press. There are many sunken civilizations down there, he claimed.

John Knowles, who, with his wife Linda Leblanc, runs the paranormal research company Psychognosia, challenged Sarmast to a live debate on television about the Atlantis speculation. They hired Joe McMoneagle, a skilled remote viewer, who worked as a “psychic spy” for the military to conduct a special remote viewing session on the geographical coordinates of Sarmast’s discovery. McMoneagle was not informed of the purpose of the session, but was asked to state what was located at that point on the earth, both today and 10,00 years earlier. According to a report of this experiment published in the newspater, The Cyprus Mail, McMoneagle noted that today it was a body of water, but that 10,000 years ago, it was a city with many homes, roads, and hanging gardens, with water and boats everywhere. The atmosphere seemed peaceful, civilized, and orderly. Knowles concluded that Sarmast would find the underwater ruins of an ancient civilization at that site near Cyprus, but that to conclude that it was Atlantis was unwarranted.
Lost city of Atlantis found?

Researcher claims ruins are in the Mediterranean

Sunday, November 14, 2004 Posted: 5:12 PM EST (2212 GMT)

LIMASSOL, Cyprus (AP) -- An American researcher claimed Sunday to have discovered the remains of the legendary lost city of Atlantis on the bottom of the east Mediterranean Sea. But Cyprus' chief government archaeologist was skeptical.

Robert Sarmast said sonar scanning of the seabed between east Cyprus and Syria revealed man-made walls, one as long as 3 kilometers (2 miles), and trenches at a depth of 1,500 meters (1,640 yards).

"It is a miracle we found these walls as their location, and lengths match exactly the description of the acropolis of Atlantis provided by Plato in his writings," Sarmast said, referring to the ancient Greek philosopher.

"We have definitely found the Acropolis of Atlantis," he affirmed, adding the site was 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Cyprus.

The chief government archaeologist of Cyprus, Pavlos Flourentzos, reacted with skepticism, telling The Associated Press: "More proof is necessary."

Sarmast, 38, is an architect by training from Los Angeles. He has devoted the past two-and-a-half years to trying to locate the lost city described by Plato in his dialogues, the Timaeous and the Critias. He spoke to reporters on the "Flying Enterprise," his expeditionary ship, after six days of taking highly sophisticated "side scan" sonars of the seabed.

He said he had chosen the area from data provided by two earlier sonar scans of the east Mediterranean by Russian and French expeditions. His own expedition used more sophisticated equipment, he said.

"We found more than 60-70 points that are a perfect match with Plato's detailed description of the general layout of the acropolis hill of Atlantis. The match of the dimensions and the coordinates provided by our sonar with Plato's description are so accurate that, if this is not indeed the acropolis of Atlantis, then this is the world's greatest coincidence," he said.

Tests of that part of the seabed showed it had once been above sea level, he said.

"We cannot yet provide tangible proof in the form of bricks and mortar as the artifacts are still buried under several meters of sediment at a depth of 1,500 meters (1,640 yards), but the evidence is now irrefutable," he added.

Asked if the ruins could not be that of another city that sank beneath the waves, Sarmast said the remains match Plato's description of Atlantis so closely that they could not be anything else.

"If you compare it with Plato, you will be astonished," he said. "We hope that future expeditions will be able to uncover the sediment and bring back physical proof."

Plato wrote of Atlantis as an island in the western sea, which has been widely interpreted to mean the Atlantic Ocean. An earthquake undermined the island and it was submerged. But societies dedicated to finding Atlantis remain.

For its time, Atlantis was a highly civilized nation and in legend it has become associated with utopia. The English philosopher Francis Bacon called his 1627 book on the ideal state The New Atlantis.

Flourentzos said it was possible that Atlantis was near Cyprus.

"The myth of Atlantis has been around for ages and it is generally believed that, if it ever existed, it was somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean -- hence its name. But ancient cities and civilizations in the Mediterranean region, such as the Minoan civilization of Crete, have disappeared as a result of major volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. For all we know, Atlantis may well have existed in our region."

Sarmast said his expedition had cost about $250,000. The funds came from public donations to his US-based company "First Source Enterprise," which is devoted to the project, sales of his book "The Discovery of Atlantis," and the Cypriot Tourist Organization, which donated $60,000.

He said the book, published in September 2003, said Atlantis was in the east Mediterranean and his latest sonars confirmed it.

Link to above story:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/11/14/cyprus.atlantis.ap/Atlantis off Cyprus? Maybe not
By Staff Reporter

Paranormal study group enlists psychic to challenge US author’s theory

By Jean Christou

A PAPHOS-based organisation that investigates paranormal phenomena is

challenging American author Robert Sarmast’s assertion that the lost city of
Atlantis lies off Cyprus. The group says they have conducted a remote viewing
experiment with the participation of a former US military ‘psychic spy’.

John Knowles, who runs Psychognosia with his wife Linda Leblanc, recently

engaged Sarmast, the author of Discovery of Atlantis: The Startling Case for
the Island of Cyprus, in a friendly debate on Paphos TV, challenging his claims
based on history and on the accounts of Plato, which is the main source of
Sarmast’s theory on the location of Atlantis.

Following the TV debate, Leblanc said that it seemed like an ideal

opportunity to display the skills of what she called one of the one of the world's
most talented ‘remote viewers’ and one of the top US military former ‘psychic
spies’, Joseph McMoneagle.

It is known that the US and Russian military have over the years conducted

extensive research in the use of extra-sensory perception (ESP) to obtain
intelligence information. The practice is known as remote viewing and McMoneagle
has written four books about his experiences working for the US Defence
Department. Following his retirement from the military, he established a company
that conducts remote viewing under contract with private individuals and
companies
“Using only the map co-ordinates of Sarmast, we commissioned Joseph
McMoneagle to report what he found at this location before Sarmast conducts his
underwater exploration,” said Leblanc.

“As is McMoneagle's usual protocol, he did not know we were the contractor.

All he had was the co-ordinates that Sarmast proposes to use, in a sealed
envelope, with general questions we provided, on the outside of the envelope.
There was no mention of "Atlantis" or Cyprus, either by us or in McMoneagle’s
three-page report.

McMoneagle was asked to describe what he saw within a two-mile radius of the

coordinates both 10,000 years ago and at the present time.

His report said he perceived what appeared to be 10,000 years ago a

generally elongated island running approximately east-northeast to west-southwest,
approximately 235 kilometres in length and 65-75 kilometres wide at its widest
with two moderately tall mountains at either end of the island.

He said there was a predominant city on the island with a system of

buildings which seemed to represent homes “for lack of a better word”. “These appear
to be apartments or clusters of homes that are interconnected with streets
that run in lines outward from the central core of the city that sits at the
foot of the mountain bluff,” the report said

“The city is crowded but orderly. It is also filled with many canals and

rivers running throughout, and a multitude of hanging gardens, also filled with
water. There are many gardens filled with produce-producing plants. Lots of
greenery and multi-coloured plants indicating flowering plants of various
natures. I have a strong feeling and sense that there are many aromas filling the
streets and airs here.”

He said he also saw art everywhere: statues, art work on buildings, mosaics,

paintings, decorative stone work, carvings, woodwork and the like. “It is a
place that is filled with the types of things one would find in a culture
with much available leisure time and the kinds of highly valued crafts to fill
it,” the report said.
“I do not get a sense of much violence. I do not get a sense of much in the
way of military or a requirement for security or guards. There is however a
sense that there is a great deal of orderliness, cleanliness, refinement.”

McMoneagle said the weather was around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, mild

with very little humidity and soft breezes from the south-east with the city and
island surrounded by what appeared to be huge multiple lakes as far as the
eye can see.

“It is a wonderland of nothing but water. It is a world of water. I see

ships and boats of every description. They are of every size imaginable. This is
a seafaring nation. They are a very rich nation, both culturally as well as
from a trading standpoint. They survive on what they take from the sea and
what they reach out and trade in. Their ships are exquisite. They are both
delicate and appear to be very modern in construction and strength, capable of
cross ocean sailing both ancient and modern at the same time.”

approximately five feet, five to five feet nine in height. “The men and women
mostly have soft brown hair, with green to hazel eyes. Some have blue eyes,
but it’s a rarity. They speak a language which appears to be somewhat like
Sumerian but probably predates it. Their written language is probably older than
Sumerian. It is a fluid script like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It has no
vowels which are assumed. Their math is quite similar to our own, except
that it excludes zero,” his report said.
He said the ancient inhabitants of the island had complex surgery, but
preferred to use natural healing methods, or relieve pain and allow someone to die
with grace and dignity. The natural length of life, he said, was
approximately 100 years of age for both sexes, and the normal size of a family was four.
Religion was Monotheistic, centering on a Prime Energy. “They are
non-violent. They do not believe in capital punishment. There are no locked doors.
Formal teaching takes place within temple/schools from age five until age nine,
and then there is a form of apprenticeship that takes place over a number of
years according to the skill set chosen.

“All those over age sixty are honoured as historians, except the infirm, who

are cared for as infirm. The form of currency is family honour and
consistency. Dishonour breaks the bonds of feed and support, exiling the family from
the city forever.”

Under the water McMoneagle perceived some ruins buried in muck and mud, but

these are hard to recognise against the remains of the mountain which was
also restructured by the collapse of a significant portion of the island during
the upheaval that took place during the great flood, he said. McMoneagle
classed the ancient city as pre-Sumerian. This would date it prior to 3,500 BC.

Knowles told the Cyprus Mail that it was very likely that Sarmast would in

fact uncover an ancient city where his expedition will take place but he said
he was concerned that this would be presented as Atlantis, when in fact the
likelihood is remote.

“The bottom of the Mediterranean is littered with civilisations so I would

not be surprised if some evidence of one is dredged up but they must know in
their hearts that it is not Atlantis,” Knowles said.

Sarmast who is still in the preparatory stage of his expedition told the

Cyprus Mail yesterday he had no opinion on Psychognosia’s experiment. “We are
using solid historical and scientific evidence and I would prefer not to mix
this with other domains,” he said.

Physical activity or exercise, research has long established, lowers blood pressure both by strengthening the heart and by dilating blood vessels. Regular activity can prevent the development of hypertension, or keep it under control if it does develop. New research has shown that muscle mass is associated with lower blood pressure, while body fat is associated with higher blood pressure.

When there is too much body fat, stress creates an excess of sodium in the system, according to research conducted at the Georgia Prevention Institute at the Medical College of Georgia. The increase in sodium raises blood pressure. According to their research, recently published in the American Journal of Hypertension, a person who has a lower body fat index is less susceptible to this effect. In their study, they stressed young adults by having them play an exciting video game. Afterwards, the stress showed itself in elevated blood pressure. However, those participants who had higher muscle to fat ratio evidenced a significantly faster return to normal blood pressure levels than those participants with a greater proportion of body fat.

This result received added confirmation by examining the sodium content in the urine of the participants. Under conditions of increased blood pressure, the body excretes sodium into the urine. Participants with more muscle evidenced more sodium in their urine than did the participants with more fat, showing that the leaner bodies were more efficient in lowering blood pressure.
Stressed? Build Muscle to Help Blood Pressure

Blacks May Benefit Most From Building Muscle

By Jeanie Lerche DavisWebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MDon Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Nov. 24, 2004 -- Hand weights, running, swimming: Just do it. For people prone to high blood pressure, having more muscle than fat helps control blood pressure during stressful times, researchers say.

Blacks -- a race especially at risk for stress-related high blood pressure -- stand to benefit the most, writes researcher Martha E. Wilson, with the Georgia Prevention Institute at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

Her study appears in the current American Journal of Hypertension.

Earlier studies from the Georgia research group have shown that when body mass index (BMI, an indicator of body fat) is high, the body gets overwhelmed by excess sodium during stressful times, explains Wilson. The result is a spike in blood pressure.

Studies have also indicated that blacks are especially at risk for this blood pressure spike, writes Wilson. Also, males seem to be at even higher risk, she notes.

Wilson and colleagues examined this pattern in 127 young adults. They monitored blood pressure every 15 minutes for five hours -- two hours before and after a one-hour video game session.

All of the players' blood pressure increased about 5% during the video game phase, which is considered normal. However, for leaner players, blood pressure returned more quickly to normal -- about 25% faster than those with more body fat, reports Wilson.

During the study the researchers also tested urine for sodium amount. The body responds to an increase in blood pressure by excreting more sodium in urine. If the body fails to excrete enough sodium, high blood pressure may result.

The researchers found that people with more body fat did, in fact, excrete less sodium in their urine. This finding may explain the link between more body fat and higher blood pressure in response to stress.

Also, blacks in the study had higher levels of blood pressure in the stress portion of the study. This pattern is consistent with other studies, which showed that black people's blood pressure was slower in recovering to normal levels.

Being overweight and having high blood pressure are leading causes of heart disease, the nation's No. 1 killer.

One of the most important things you can do for your blood pressure is to become more active. Physical activity can help prevent the development of high blood pressure and can help keep it under control if your blood pressure is already high.

A major reason high blood pressure is so common — one in four American adults has it — is that people aren't active enough. Modern conveniences and lack of time foster sedentary lifestyles. About one-quarter of adults are sedentary, and only about 15 percent regularly get enough exercise to gain any health benefits.

Physical activity is crucial to controlling your blood pressure because it makes your heart stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood more efficiently. And the less your heart has to work, the less force, or pressure, that's exerted on your arteries. There's also some evidence that exercise decreases the body's release of norepinephrine, a hormone that raises blood pressure by constricting arteries and increasing heart rate. And exercise may also improve the condition of arteries and veins, which can enhance blood flow.

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Hypertension begins at readings of 140/90 mm Hg. Becoming more active can lower your blood pressure by as much as 4 to 9 points. That could mean the difference between having high blood pressure and not having it. And it's the same reduction in blood pressure delivered by some antihypertensive medications — but without the side effects.

A new normal: Experts toughen blood pressure goals

What your blood pressure means

Regular physical activity also helps you maintain a normal weight or lose excess pounds. Weight loss can have a powerful impact on blood pressure, reducing it by as much as 20 points. In fact, once you get moving, you might even be able to reduce some of your blood pressure medications — just talk to your doctor before making any changes.

In addition, physical activity may help prevent preeclampsia, a serious problem in some pregnancies. Preeclampsia is a rare, life-threatening condition that may develop after the 20th week of pregnancy and that is primarily characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria). Women who regularly participate in physical activity during the first five months of pregnancy or in the year before pregnancy may reduce their risk of preeclampsia. Talk to your doctor first to make sure exercise is safe for you.

Hypertension and pregnancy: Careful monitoring is crucial

The motto of physical fitness used to be "No pain, no gain." Many people thought they had to transform themselves into world-class athletes or spend hours in the gym each day to truly benefit from physical activity.